Breaking news
FIA F2
Sauber protege Pourchaire moves up to F2 with ART
Sauber Academy driver Theo Pourchaire will move up to Formula 2 in 2021, becoming ART Grand Prix’s first signing for the new season.
Rachit Thukral
Published: Jan 25, 2021, 8:32 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Pourchaire makes the step up to the Formula 1 feeder category on the back of a successful maiden season with ART in FIA F3, where he lost out on the championship by just three points to Prema rival Oscar Piastri.
The 17-year-old however beat the other two Prema drivers, Logan Sargeant and Frederik Vesti, the latter being recently added to Mercedes’ young driver programme.
Pourchaire already has limited experience of F2, having competed in the final two rounds of last year’s campaign with HWA.
With this announcement, the top two drivers in last year’s F3 season have both secured a graduation to F2, with Piastri already having been named as Mick Schumacher's replacement at Prema alongside Robert Shwartmzan.
“I am very happy to be able to continue with ART Grand Prix!” Pourchaire, who won the 2019 German F4 title, said. “This team gave me the opportunity to drive in F3 last year and now accompanies me to the gates of Formula 1, in F2.
"This year my aim does not change, I’m still aiming for the top. I would like to thank Sauber Academy, ART Grand Prix, my sponsors and my family.
"I feel perfectly ready for this new season. I will probably be the youngest driver in the F2 championship this year, so the goal will be to gain as much experience as possible and to progress throughout the season!”.
ART finished fifth in the 2020 standings, with its top driver Christian Lundgaard ending up seventh in the drivers’ championship after bagging two wins over the course of the season.
Lundgaard tested for ART in last month's post-season test in Bahrain, but hasn't officially been retained by the team for this year. His 2020 teammate Marcus Armstrong has moved across to join DAMS.
“Theo’s progress has been remarkable since his debut in motorsports,” ART team principal Ssbastien Philippe said. “F4 champion in 2019, he ended last season as F3 runner-up.
"Beyond the final result, he impressed the team by his evolution in a delicate context and with an extremely competitive field.
"Theo had nothing to gain by doing a second season in F3 and his move to F2 is the logical next step of our collaboration. The step is high, but between his talent, his determination and his thirst for learning, I’m sure he can make this transition a success."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Ferrari Academy driver Armstrong makes DAMS F2 switch
Next article Carlin announces Ticktum for 2021 F2 campaign
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Rachit Thukral
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
WEC
WEC
Monza
1 h
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
Why Corvette’s new LMGT3 champion Jonny Edgar has a bright future
WEC
WEC
Monza
21 h
Why Corvette’s new LMGT3 champion Jonny Edgar has a bright future
More from
Theo Pourchaire
Theo Pourchaire focused on new Opel Formula E programme amid doubts over WEC future
WEC
WEC 3 mo
Theo Pourchaire focused on new Opel Formula E programme amid doubts over WEC future
Overlooked F2 champion who “deserved better” returns to F1 in Mercedes role
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain Pre-Season 2
8 mo
Overlooked F2 champion who “deserved better” returns to F1 in Mercedes role
Theo Pourchaire is starting second chapter in WEC but 'deserved better' after F2 title
WEC
WEC 10 mo
Theo Pourchaire is starting second chapter in WEC but 'deserved better' after F2 title
More from
ART Grand Prix
When Paul Di Resta beat Sebastian Vettel to the F3 title
F3
F3 6 mo
When Paul Di Resta beat Sebastian Vettel to the F3 title
Haas announces 15-year-old Kaylee Countryman as 2026 F1 Academy driver
F1 Academy
F1 Academy
Las Vegas
10 mo
Haas announces 15-year-old Kaylee Countryman as 2026 F1 Academy driver
Williams parts ways with Lia Block as F1 Academy star is set to return to rally
F1 Academy
F1 Academy
Las Vegas
11 mo
Williams parts ways with Lia Block as F1 Academy star is set to return to rally
Latest news
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
1 h
Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
2 h
"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
3 h
Iker Lecuona felt significant differences between Ducati's GP25 and GP26
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe